Russell Brookes facts for kids
Brookes at the 2009 Autosport International.
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  British |
| Born | 16 August 1945 Redditch, Worcestershire, England, United Kingdom |
| Died | 29 October 2019 (aged 74) |
| World Rally Championship record | |
| Active years | 1973–1994 |
| Teams | Ford, Talbot, Vauxhall/Opel |
| Rallies | 21 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Rally wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 3 |
| Stage wins | 38 |
| Total points | 56 |
| First rally | 1973 RAC Rally |
| Last rally | 1994 RAC Rally |
Russell Brookes (born August 16, 1945 – died October 30, 2019) was a famous British rally driver. Rallying is a type of car racing on public or private roads, often with rough surfaces. Russell Brookes was known for his exciting driving style.
He won the important British Rally Championship twice. First, he won in 1977 driving a Ford Escort RS1800. Later, he won again in 1985 with an Opel Manta 400. He also achieved great results in the World Rally Championship. He finished in the top three at the RAC Rally in his home country three times in a row, from 1977 to 1979.
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Russell Brookes' Rally Career
Russell Brookes started his racing journey in 1963. He was the only son of a firefighter. At first, he drove his own cars, like a BMC Mini Cooper. It was hard for him to progress because he didn't have family money to support his racing. Also, back then, individual cars couldn't have sponsors.
In 1973, things started to change for Russell. He got noticed by the Ford Motor Company Ltd. This happened when he was competing in their special Ford Escort Mexico championship.
Sponsorship and Success
In 1974, Russell Brookes began a very long partnership. He signed a deal with Andrews - Heat for Hire. This company rented out heating and air conditioning equipment. Their cars were easy to spot because they were bright yellow. This yellow color stayed on almost all his cars until 1991. This sponsorship deal was very successful for both Russell and the company.
In 1976, Russell was invited to join the official Ford racing team. He drove an Escort RS1800 in the British Rally Championship. This championship was very popular at the time. Russell raced alongside famous drivers like Björn Waldegård, Hannu Mikkola, and Ari Vatanen. All of them later became world champions.
Russell won the Open Championship in 1977. He continued to race for Ford until the end of the 1979 World Rally Championship season.
Moving Teams and Rivalries
After leaving Ford, Russell spent two years with the Talbot team. Then, he joined the Vauxhall/Opel dealer team. He first drove a Chevette HSR, and later the powerful Group B Opel Manta 400.
His time with the Opel Manta led to an exciting rivalry. He was competing directly against his teammate, Jimmy McRae. Jimmy McRae was the father of the later world champion, Colin McRae. Their competition was intense, as they both wanted to be known as the 'Top British Driver'. Jimmy McRae won this unofficial title in 1984, and Russell Brookes won it in 1985. Fans still remember their fierce but friendly competition today.
Later Years in Rallying
After a year with the Vauxhall Astra and one race in a Lancia Delta Integrale, Russell rejoined Ford in 1988. He aimed to win the British Rally Championship again. He first drove a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth. Later, he drove a Ford Sapphire Cosworth 4x4. With this car, he gave Ford their first international win using a new four-wheel-drive car.
He stayed with Ford until 1991. After that, he mostly stopped competing in rallies full-time. However, he still made occasional appearances. He drove in historic rallies and other motorsports events until shortly before he passed away. In September 2008, Russell took part in the Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally. He drove a historic Ford Escort RS1600 in this event. Many former world and British champions raced that day to honor Colin McRae, who had died in 2007.
Russell Brookes passed away on October 30, 2019. He was 74 years old. His death was due to injuries from a bicycle accident.
